trethewey



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shet 1. W. G. TRETHEWEY. CAN LABELING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 1,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shet 2. W. G. TRETHEWEY. CAN LABELING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

)4320 (coves.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. G. TRETHEWEY. CAN LABELING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 1, 1898..

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. G. TRETHEWEY. CAN LABELING MACHINEPatented Feb. 1, 1898..

llrvrrn FCEt CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,277, dated February1, 1898.

Application filed September 8, 1896. Serial No. 605,218. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. TRETI-IE- WEY, a citizen of the Dominionof Canada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia,Canada, have invented a new and useful Labeling-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for labeling cans; andits objects are, first, to provide a machine of the kind of a cheap,simple, and durable construction and which may be readily adjusted tosuit cans and labels'of various dimensions and that may be readilyrepaired when worn or broken; second, to produce a machine that willlabel perfectly a great number of cans in a short space of time,securely pasting down the lap, and turn them out dry and clean, freefrom paste daubs, ready for casing immediately after coming from themachine, and, third, a labeling-machine that will as readily applynarrow labels to a can of a much greater length than the said labelswidth, as to cans whose entire circumferences are covered by the labels.1 attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal intersection ofmy improved machine, taken at lines Y Y of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is plan viewof the same with the adjustable pasting-can feeding and propelling gearremoved. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the machine, taken atline X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged View of the lap-pastingdevice intersected at line Z Z of Fig. 5, and Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetail view of a part of the same with its lower depending part brokenaway. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the paste-fountain, the can pasting andspacing device, and also the paste-spreading roller shown in dottedlines. Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective View of the back-label guideand can-support with its appurtenances and showing the manner in whichsaid guide is connected with the bed of the machine. Fig. 8 is anenlarged perspective view of the front-label guide, which is providedwith a short depending portion; and Fig. 9 is a crosssection of theadjustable can-guides, taken at line 0 O of Fig. 1.

In the said drawin similar letters and numerals designate correspondingthe views.

A indicates the bed of my improved machine, which is preferably mountedupon and secured to legs, as B and O, A

D indicates the tie-bar, which is securely fastened to the cross-ties Oof the legs B and 0. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)

E'indicates an adjustable frame,which is arranged above the bed A bymeans of the support-brackets F and G, with their depending arms passingthrough apertures in the bed A. The arms of the bracket F at their lowerextremities are threaded and are provided with wing-nuts thereon belowand above the bed A on either side of the aperture, and they areprovided on their inner side beneath the frame E with lug-bolts, as F,as shown in Fig. 3. The bracket G is provided at its lower dependencies(which pass through the slotted openings in the bed A, as A with anumber of small apertures 9 through which the pins g are thrust and restupon the bed A. Toward the top of the depending arms of the said bracketG are machine-screws g, which connect and securely fasten the frame E inplace, as shown inFig. 1, and at the opposite end the said frame E isrigidly connected by the collar-bolt H. By reason of the parts in allsaid apertures, wing-nuts, and pins it will be perceived that theframeE, carrying the belt wheel J, and the paste and can feedingmechanism may be adjustably fixed at various elevations above the bed A,for a purpose presently described.

By reason of the wheels J being mounted in the manner just described itwill be seen that the belt I may be adj ustably fixed at variousaltitudes above the bed A to engage cans of various diameters in theirpassage through the rear part of the machine, it being simply necessarywhen it is desired to increase the distance between the belt I and thebed A to move the frame E upward through the medium of the Wing-nuts Fand securely fix it where desired.

the belt-wheels J, for a reason to appear presently, and encircling thesaid wheel is a cushion-pad provided on its edges with the slightflanges 70 and on the end of the said wheelis abeveled flange, whoseouter rim projects beyond the periphery of the said wheel, as shown inFig. 6.

Directly in front of and approximate to the wheel K is a paste-wheel L,which is adjustably mounted on the shaft L by means of the key in theseat L and beneath the said wheel L is mounted a paste-receptacle M.This receptacle is designed to carry and supply the paste-wheel L uponits periphery by means of the opening, which may be closed by theslidevalve m and thus it will be seen that any desired amount of pastemay be allowed to escape, for the purpose of better supplying paste tocans of different length, as it will be readily understood that inlabeling flat cans the surface to be pasted will not be so great as inoperating on tall cans. To better assist in the control of the adhesive,the receptacle M is formed to engage the rising sides of the wheel L bythe flanges m, and it is mounted on bars which pass through smallapertures on either side of the wheel L in the frame E, which aperturesare not in direct line with the apertures in the paste-receptacle M byreason of the pasting-periphery of the wheel L forcing the position ofsaid apertures in the receptacle M from alinement with the apertures inthe frame E intervening. (See Fig. 6.) Thus it will be seen that thepaste-receptacle is constantly yieldingly pressed against the wheel L bythe spring of the rods m.

Lying above and between the paste-wheel L and the cushioned wheel K is apastespreading roller N, mounted in a swinging bracket 0. This bracketis provided at the ends of its parallel branches with slots whichreceive and rest upon the shaft L, so that the said roller N turns inclose proximity to the paste-wheel L, and when the machine is inoperation lies upon and is turned by the cushion-wheel K.

In operating on extreme flat cans a cushion 70 is employed notquite sowide as the label to be applied in order that no adhesive may be smearedover the parts of the can not covered by the said label, and by reasonof the adjustment of the paste-wheel L and the slide-valve m the streamof paste is directed to the periphery of the roller N, that bearsbetween the flanges 70 on the wheel K. The said flanges 70 keep thepaste from spreading over the edges of the cushion.

Lying parallel and longitudinally to the bed of the machine areadjustable guide-bars P, which are securely fastened where desired toaccommodate the length of can to be labeled by bolts passing through theslots P of the brackets P and apertures in the bed A, as shown in Fig.2. About the center of the guide-bars P and on their inner sides aredepending flanges Q. These flanges Q are designed to receive the rimsand support the cans in their passage through the machine.

To the rear and with their ends resting upon the said flanges Q areadjustable flanges R, which are securely fixed where desired through themedium of the slots R and the thumb-nuts R. It will be readily seen fromthe foregoing that labels of various lengths may be employed in themachine.

On the rear side of the label-opening is securely fixed a curved plateS, (see Fig. 1,)

which has its forward dependingend curved downward and its oppositecorners resting on the bed A, and at its opposite end it is securelyfastened to the horizontal part of the leg-frame B by the bolt S,.asshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Upon the curved plate S is suitably arranged a strip of ordinary carpet,as T. This carpet acts as a cushion to securely affix the lap end of thelabel when the passing can is pressed between the belt I and the saidplate S. Owing to the particular shape of the curved plate S it will bereadily seen that the cans may pass over the said plate in a continualstream in close proximity to each other without the possibility of thebelt being lifted from any of the cans by reason of the convex shape ofthe plate S. The more cans that may be upon it the tighter the belt Iwill press the said cans.

Approximate to and beneath the front end of the plate S is a smallroller U, mounted upon a shaft U the said shaft being journaled and madeto turn in depending brackets U, the whole being suitably fastened tothe bed A by means of the bolts U Bearing against the rear side of theroller U and with an opening receiving the periphery thereof isapaste-fountain W. This paste fountain W is designed to supply paste tothe lap end of the labels in such quantities as desired,and it ispreferably made in the shape as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. In the saidpaste-fountain, W indicates the parallel side plates of the same, whichare of triangular shape, with their lower portions projecting clear ofthe fountain proper, and near the outer edges of these side plates w,which lie in proximity to the depending lugs U, are apertures, the samebeing placed a little from line with apertures in the said lugs U, andwhen the spring-rod 10 is passed through the apertures in the dependinglugs U and the side plates w of the paste-fountain the opening on theopposite side will be pressed against the roller U, and thus allow but athin film of paste to pass to the lap of the label by the turning of thesaid roller U.

To prevent too much of the adhesive being taken on the lap of thelabels, I provide the cross-wire scraper W This wire scraper is madetolie upon and across the label-stack and bear upon the same immediatelyin front of the roller U, (see Fig. 4,) and itis provided with a tubularroller upon its horizontal portion. The parallel ends of the saidscraper are fastened to the sides of the paste-fountain by solder orother suitable means. It will be seen from the foregoing that it matterslittle how much paste may be lying on the ing-flanges W are provided, asshown in Fig.

5. These flanges W snugly fit and provide bearings for the roller Uwithin the opening of the paste-fountain W. Beneath the pasteroller Uand extending downward is a depending plate WV which acts as a supportfor the ends of the labels to rest against and a means of keeping themeven.

X indicates a cylindrical paste-receptacle, which is provided with aplunger on the end of the shaft X, and the said plunger is presseddownward by the spring-arm XZthe opposite end of which is preferablyfastened to the frame-bracket by the lug-bolt F, (see Fig. 3,) the pastewithin the fountain and receptacle W and X being of such a consistencythat it will not escape through the open ing in the receptacle, as Xwhen the machine is not in operation; but when the roller U is made toturn by the machines operation the paste is gradually worked from thefountain and is applied to the bearing ends of the labels.

a indicates the adjustable label guides which are employed on each ofthe opposite longitudinal sides of the labelspace. guides at, as bettershown in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively,comprise vertical portions whichform the guide for the labels and horizontal portions which have slots'aand they are adjustably connected to the bed A by bolts a, which takethrough the slots (i and A whereby it will be seen that they may bereadily adjusted in the direction of the width and length of the bed andmay be fixed at various positions, according to the size of the labelsemployed, which is a great consideration.

The horizontal portions of the label-guides are arranged below the upperedges of the vertical portions, and the upper edges of the said verticalportions are placed at an obtuse angle to the horizontal portions, andthey are provided with extending points 667, and at their opposite endsare beveled off, as ct. About the center of the vertical portion areclamps C62, which securely hold in place hooked pins or, which aredesigned to extend over and engage the topmost label, and their pointsare yieldingly pressed downward, so that if two labels are taken up by apassing can the second one is thrown back in its place ready Upon thevertical portions for the next can. and to the rear of the horizontalparts of the guide-frames a are a second set of hooked pins a,projecting through slots CL5 of the frames 0. and suitably fastenedthereto, as shown in Fig. 8. These pins are intended to prevent thelabels from being dragged out of place by the velocity of the uppermostlabel on its way to the can.

These It will be observed that passing cans can only rollupon the frontpart of the label-stack, as their rims are supported by the upper edgesof the vertical parts of the guides a, and by reason of the sudden risethereon the label-covered can is brought between the belt I and thecushion T on the plate S, thus insuring neat and regular work.

1) indicates the label-support frame, which may be and preferably isformed in one piece, as shown, and it comprises the lower horizontalpart, which is fastened by means of a bolt passing through an aperturetherein and the slot D of the tie-bar D, and the top of the said frameI) is provided with lateral branches which rest against and areadjustably fastened to the under side of the bed A by bolts W of thepaste-fountain W to accommodate labels of various lengths.

l/Vithiil the upright portions of the frame I) is the sliding, frame cl.This sliding frame (1 is designed to provide the label-support and themeans of automatically supplying labels to passing cans, It ispreferably made with the horizontal portion cl being held rigidly in itsflat position by means of shoulders bearing against the rear sides andshoulders en gaging the forward side of the frame F), the said frame I)and the shoulders in the frame d being so fitted that the frame disdrawn up the frame I) by means of the weight f on the cords f, whichpass over the pulleys b in .the bracket 0 and fastened at its end to.the

bolt d in the frame cl.

Lying upon the horizontal part of the frame d, as d, is a block of woodor other suitable material e. This block e is convex on its upl persurface, and toward its rear end it tapers off to an edge, andprojecting beyond this edge is provided a yielding metal spring, as e.The said spring may be made by suitably fastening a piece of sheet-tinto the receding part of the block, and at its extremity the said springis curved upward, for the reason that the horizontal parts of the rearedges of the labels will always be yieldingly pressed against thepaste-roller U and prevents at any time their becoming jammed betweenthe roller U and the said yielding support.

A separate block eis provided to fit the different widths and lengths oflabels desired to be operated upon, and by reason of the verticaldepending portion of one of the labelguides at extending downward but avery short distance (see Fig. 8) the said guide a will the edge of thesaid chute.

At the forward end of the machine and suitably fastened to the bed A isa plate h. This plate is rigidly braced by a rod vl,which is securelyfastened to the under side thereof and with its depending end fastenedbeneath the cross-tie C of the legs 0, and secured from the saidcross-tie O is a second bracerod j, which securely connects thecross-tie O and the top horizontal part of the legs B. The abovebrace-rods effectually prevent undue vibration in the machines frame.

At the lower extremities of the legs 0 are wheels, as 0 which furnish aneasy means of moving the machine from place to place.

In providing for the driving power of can feeding and pasting deviceseither hand or motive power may be attached to the rear shaft J, as J 2and J and when turned the lap-roller U will be driven by means of anelastic belt n, passing over a pulley mounted on a shaft U and a similarone mounted on the forward shaft J. A second, and preferably a small,sprocket-pulley is mounted on the said shaft J, and a sprocket-belt Z,passing there around and over a large sprocket-pulley K mounted on theshaft K, and thence around the sprocket-pulley L mounted on the shaft L,as shown in Fig. 6.

By reason of the wheel K being larger than the belt-wheels J it will beseen that when the cans are poured into the chute, as shown in Fig. 1,their peripheries will be engaged by the cushion 7c, and as the saidchute or bed of the machine is on an incline that when the wheel K isturned the cans will be passed under the said Wheel K and theiruppermost peripheries will be thoroughly pasted by means of the cushionand it will be readily understood that by the slow movement of the wheelK, through the medium of the small sprocket-pulley on the shaft J andthe large one on the shaft K, the cans will be spaced by gravity and onaccount of the incline in the said bed imparting to the cans a fastermotion than the motion of the wheel K, thus producing a cheap andpositive spacer for all sizes of cans, which is an importantdesideratum. I further employ the wheel K as an auxiliary in betterhandling the cans by means of the beveled flange 76 which flange is setwith its outer rim just without the can-chute and its inner bevelprojecting slightly over As the cans are engaged by the wheel K theirouter rim will be engaged by the flange 70 and the cans will be shuntedand squared by their opposite ends being pressed against the frontguide. Especially is the above advantageous in handling cans of unequallength that vary to oneeighth of an inch and under.

In the practice of my invention the belt I, the wheel K, the guides P,the label-guides a, the label-block e, and the label-supporting frame atare adjusted to suit the size of the cans and that of the labels to beapplied thereto, and, if necessary, the cushion 70' may be removed and acushion of more proper size employed. The labels are now placed in astack .upon the block 6, on the support frame thereof, and the machineis ready for operation. In operation the machine is set in motion andthe cans are preferably poured into a temporary chute in advance of themachine and with the lower end resting upon the plate 77.. From thechute and over the plate h to the wheel K the canswill be brought bygravity. They are pasted and released one by one by the slow turning ofthe said wheel K, and one half-turn brings the pasted portion of thecans upon the forward end of the label-stack, each one taking up onelabel. At this point the cans are brought upon a plane of less declivityby reason of the rise rearward on the label-guides a, which bring thelabel-covered cans in contact with the belt I, which rolls them alongand tightly presses the labels thereon, and are dropped into a suitablechute, from which they may be conveniently packed into cases.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my improved machine, consideringthe wide range of work it is adapted to do, is very cheap and simple,and it will also be seen that the machine may be readily taken apart,and may consequently be easily repaired when worn or broken. It willalso be seen from the foregoing that the machine requires but oneattendant and that it is adapted to efficiently label a large number ofcans in a short space of time, which is the important desideratum.

I have in some respects specifically described the construction andrelative arrangement of the several parts of my improved machine inorder to impart a full and clear understanding of the same; but I do notdesire to be understood as confining myself to such construction orarrangement, as such changes or modifications may be made in practice asfairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a can-labelingmachine with adjustable guideways for cans and labels of differentdimensions, the combination of a wheel K mounted in an adjustable frameE having a flange It on its one end, and a cushion having flanges 70 onits periphery and means for imparting slow motion to the same,wherebythe cans will be pasted by the engagement thereof, and retarded, whilethe released cans will roll forward by gravity at a higher speed thanthe turning of the said wheel K, and a swiftlytraveling belt I willengage the cans through the rear part of the machine, substantially asset forth.

2. In a machine for labeling cans with a bed and a frame E adj ustablyarranged above the bed, a can-engaging, pasting-wheel K having a flange70 on its one end mounted in the said frame E and means for impartingslower movement to the said wheel K than the trend of the cans, wherebythe same will be spaced by gravity, a paste-supplying wheel L mounted inthe said frame E and to the rear of the wheel K, a spreading-roller Nwhich lies upon and is turned by the can engaging and pasting wheel, thesaid roller .N being made to receive the paste from the wheel L andspread it upon thecushion on the wheel K, as set forth.

In a machine for labeling cans having a bed A with an adjustable frame Emounted thereon, the combination of a can engaging, pasting and spacingwheel K, the said wheel having a flange 7t upon 'its one end, a cushionhaving flanges 7r? on its can-engaging periphery, a chain belt 1,passing over a large sprocket-pulley mounted on the shaft of the wheel Kand around a small drive sprocket wheel, for the purpose of impartingslow movement'to the wheel K, whereby the cans will gravitate apartafter their slow releasement, of a swinging bracket G supporting one endof the frame E and an adjustable vertically-fixed bracket F supportingthe other end, by which means the said wheel K may befixed along and atdifferent altitudes above the said bed A, substantially as specified.

4. In combination with a machine for label? ing cans, an adjustablerunway on abed and an opening with a label-support therein below saidbed, the said support being of convex form on its upper surface towardthe forward end, and its rear end being depressed and having a resilientportion 6, a paste-roller U below the track of the cans arranged to lieupon and supply paste to the topmost label, and means for supplyingpaste to the said roller U, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for applying labels to cans having an adjustable runwaywith an opening therein for the passage of labels, a belt I engaging thecans directly above the rear elevated portion of the label-guides ofdifferent dimensions, the combination of label-guides adjustablyarranged on the opposite sides of said opening, the rear portions ofsaid guides having an upward trend, whereby the cans are raised abovethe plane of the labels, and resilient hooked pins secured to saidguides,

said pins projecting laterally into the path of the labels and engagingthe topmost one, as

set forth. I

6. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of a bed havinglabel-guides adj ustably arranged on opposite sides thereof, resilienthooked pins adj ustably fixed on the forward portions of the saidlabel-guides and similar pins rigidly fixed at a declivity to theforward pins and made to engage the rear opposite edges of the labels,by their lateral projection through slots in the said guides,substantially as specified.

7. In a machine for applying labels to cans,

the combination of a bed with guides adjustably secured thereon, thesaid guides having adjustable depending portions R, of a labelopening inthe rear of the depending portions U arranged across the opposite end ofthe label-space and means for supplying paste thereto, a tubular roller10 mounted in a resilient way and placed parallel to and at a distancein front of the said paste-roller, a depending plate Q04 beneath theroller, of a movable label-guidea depending and placed at right anglesto the plate to and a short depending label-guide adj ustably fixedparallel to and on the opposite side of the label-opening, and resilientpins a and a secured to the said label-guides and projecting laterallyinto the said passage or opening and made to engage the topmost label,all substantially as specified.

9. In combination with a machine for 1a beling cans, a bed having apassage for labels and means for passing labels upwardly therethrough, asmall pastingroller U mounted beneath the rear end thereof and suitablemeans for supplying paste thereto, the topmost label being engaged bythe roller U and means for imparting motion to the said roller wherebythe upper label will be pasted on the lap end, substantially asspecified.

10. In a can-labeling machine, the combination of a bed provided with acan chute or runway adj ustably fixed thereto, the said runway beingformed by independent guidebars having depending canrim supportingflanges on their inner edges, which are designed to be adjustedlaterally and lengthwise of the machine, an adjustable frame mountedabove the bed, a paste-wheel mounted in the said frame, a pastereceptacle designed to receive the lower periphery of the said wheel,and made to yieldingly bear against the said wheel by rods passingthrough apertures and to the opposite sides of the frame E, the saidapertures in the frame E not being in direct line with the apertures inthe paste-receptacle by the periphery of the paste-wheel L intervening,of flanges designed to bear against the sides of the pastewheel, aslide-valve m designed to regulate the flow of paste, of apaste-spreading roller N j ournaled on a shaft N, a swinging bracket 0designed to carry and interpose the said roller N with its peripheryadjacent to the paste-supply wheel L and of a cushioned, can pasting andspacing wheel K, which supports the-spreading-roller and conveys thepaste therefrom to passing cans, all substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

11. In a candabeling machine with a can chute or runway, the combinationof a roller U placed in proximity below the runway and IIO means forsupplying paste thereto, of labelguides a on either side of alabel-passage, their supporting and rear edges being raised andprojecting above the roller U, and of resilient hooked pins secured tothe said guides or and projecting laterally Within the path of thelabels in the label-space, substantially as specified.

12. In a machine for applyinglabels t0 cans, with a runway for cans anda space for labels, the combination of a roller U placed at a lowerplane than the said runway, the said roller being made to turn in apaste-receptacle, by an elastic belt taking around a pulley on its shaftand a similar pulley on a shaft arranged in an adjustable frame abovethe can-runway, and of means of yieldingly pressing labels against thesaid roller, a tubular roller 10 on a resilient wire placed parallel tothe said roller U at some distance in front thereof and made to act as apaste-scraper for the lapel of the topmost label, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WV. G. TRETI-IEVEY.

